IBM Challenges the Mobile Development Industry to Build Watson Apps

Big Blue will hold a cognitive computing development contest.

by DevX Staff

Feb 27, 2014

IBM would like to see mobile developers create apps that take advantage of its Watson cognitive computing platform. To that end, the company has announced the "IBM Watson Mobile Developer Challenge." Entrepreneurs and developers are invited to submit their ideas for Watson-based mobile apps over the next three months. At that time, IBM will select three Winners who will join the Watson Ecosystem Program and will receive consulting help and support from IBM to develop their app.

IBM has set aside $100 million for venture investments in startups using Watson technology.

Watson offers natural language processing and analytics capabilities. It gained attention when it scored a noteworthy win on the television quiz show Jeopardy. IBM says that improvements in Watson have made the current version 24 times faster and smarter than the version that appeared on the show.